Reclining chair



Jan. 23, 1951 H. P. FRUEHAUF 2,539,067

RECLINING CHAIR Filed Jan. 31, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 23, 1951 H. P. FRUEHAUF RECLINING CHAIR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 31, 1949 20 J 7 Wily 5 Jan, 23, 1951 H. P. FRUEHAUF RECLINING CHAIR 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan 51, 1949 HER/WIN f? FEl/E/MUF wgg fiwww Gttorueg Patented Jan. 23, 1951 UNIT STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claimris.

This invention relates to chairs, and it has reference more particularly to chairs of that type commonly referred to as a reclining club chair; it being anticipated, however, that the invention be extended to various other types such as seats in buses, cars or automobiles.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a chair of the above stated character, having a back portion that may be easily and readily adjusted from one position to another between predetermined limits, and having piv oted side frames providing arm rests which will be automatically adjusted in accordance with adjustments made of the back, thus to maintain the arm rests in substantially the same comfortable relationship to the back when it is reclined as when in its upright position of adjustment.

Still another object of my invention is to provide means under spring tension whereby any desired adjustment of the chair will be retained under normal usage, but which may be easily manually readjusted Without requiring the user to arise from the chair or exert any unusual effort.

Still further objects of the invention reside in the details of construction and combination of parts as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a chair embodied by the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the chair, with the upholstery and padding removed to better disclose the frame construction and the relationship of the various movable parts.

Fig. 3 is a front view of one side portion of the chair, illustrating the spring tensioned means for retaining any adjustment of the parts.

Fig. l is a cross-sectional view on line 5-4 in Fig. 2, illustrating the forward pivotal attachment of an arm or side frame to the base frame.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental sectional view substantially On line 55 in Fig. 2, illustrating the side frame supporting linkage.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the back frame supporting members at one side of the chair.

Briefly described, this invention pertains to a chair or seat structure which is so constructed that the arms and back portions of the chair may be tilted rearward from an upright position to various reclining positions. To facilitate the achievement of the desired results, the chair structure is made up of several interrelated parts 2 comprising the base structure, opposite side or arm frames, and the back structure. The side frames are pivotally secured to the base at opposite sides and near the forward end thereof. The back structure is hingedly secured to and is adjustably supported from the base by means of metal brackets and other parts placed unden.

spring tension whereby any adjustment of the back will be retained under normal usage. The novelty and invention embodiedin this chair construction resides in the arrangement of the back and arm supporting means and the interrelated functions of the movable parts which comprise the mechanisms that permit the easy and rapid adjustment of the chair from upright to reclining positions or vice versa, and whereby the arm frames are automatically adjusted in accordance with the adjustment of the back.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

In Fig. 1, a reclining club chair embodied by this invention is illustrated in its present preferred form of construction, and is designated in its entirety by numeral 10. It is to be understood that the exterior shape, size and appearance of the chair may .be modified or varied as desired without altering the basic construction and fea-- tures which comprise my invention. To better illustrate the construction of the chair, I have,

in Figs. 2 to 6, shown the frame structures for the various main parts prior to the application of padding and upholstery thereto. the upholstery, the chair structure comprises three main parts, namely, the base H, the opposite arms and side frames I2 and the back struc ture l3.

The base l-l preferably is made from wood or metal, and its length and width may be varied according to the size, shape and style of the chair. The base structure of the chair here shown is rectangular, and it comprises opposite side rails I4, which are pieces of the required length, width and thickness, and front and rear end pieces I 5, which join the side rails H4 at the ends thereof. When so joined, the parts I4 and i5 form a box-like frame. To strengthen the construction cross members it are secured at their opposing ends to the opposite side pieces l4.

Legs I! are applied to the base at the respective corners thereof so as to support the chair at a required height from the floor. be of any desired shape or design.

The combined arm and side frames l2 are preferably of wood construction and the specific details of construction, size or shape of parts may be altered as desired or required according to the Aside from These legs may style, size or shape of the chair. Each arm and side structure comprises front and rear end pieces l8a and [8b which extend vertically between a top rail l9 and bottom rail 20, so as to form substantially a rectangular frame. The corners and general outside contou may be rounded, or shaped as desired, as is illustrated in Fig. 2, to harmonize with the general style of the chair.

Secured to the opposite end pieces IM and to the bottom rails are blocks 2!, each of which has a flat metal plate 22 afiixed thereto. The plate is formed centrally with an aperture through which a bolt 24 is projected; the head of the bolt 24 being welded to the plate 22 on the inward side thereof as shown in Fig. 4. When the metal plate 22, with bolt secured therein, is applied to the block 2!, the head of the bolt is disposed in a socket 25 provided in the block. The purpose and function of the bolt and metal plate is for the support of the adjacent side frame structure as will presently be set forth more in detail.

The frame structure which is comprised in the back of the chair is preferably constructed of wood and includes the opposite side members 26a and 26b and the cross pieces 21a and 2122 which are secured to and extend between the opposite side members at required intervals. The size and shape of the back it may also be varied according to the style, size and shape of the chair. To the top cross piece 21a, metal straps 28 are attached near the ends thereof and extend downwardly as seen in Fig. 3. These straps are formed with a succession of holes 729 at varying distances from their lower ends; the purpose of these holes in each strap being to provide for the attaching of helical springs 30 to the strap by applying one end of the springs through a selected hole. At their lower ends, the springs 30 are secured under tension to the opposite end portions of a cross rod 3|. The plurality of holes in each strap provides that, by selection, the spring may be placed under more or less tension.

in detail. It is to be explained further that the cross rod 31 extends horizontally, and has opposite end portions passed through longitudinal slots 32 in the opposite side members of the back structure, as seen in Fig. 3.

The three main parts of the chair, being constructed as hereinbefore described, are joined in movable relationship by means of lever arms which are pivotally affixed in a prescribed manner to the base, sides and back. In describing the mechanism, it is to be understood that there are similar mechanisms, as seen in Fig. 2, on each side of the chair which perform identical functions. The opposite sides I2 are pivotally secured to the opposite side rails of the base by the bolts 24, and washers 33 are applied between the metal plates 22 and the wooden sides of the base to reduce friction. The bolts are secured in place by applying nuts 35 to their inner end portions, which are threaded to receive the nuts.

The base I i and back Is are secured one to the The function and purpose of the springs will be presently set forth.

the back. Also pivotally secured to the brackets 38, at opposite sides of the base structure, and near the upper edge thereof, are rigid links 42, each of which comprises a fiat steel bar formed at one end with a hole that receives a bolt 43 therethrough, which bolt, in turn, pivotally secures the link to the upper end of corresponding bracket 38. At their opposite ends, the links 42 receive the end portions of the cross rod 3| therethrough.

Another relatively short link 44 is provided at each side of the back for the support of the corresponding side frame. Each of these short links is pivotally secured at its lower end to the wooden end piece l8b of the side frame l2 by means of a bolt 41 which is projected through link 44 and through a hole 48 in the end piece [8b as seen in Fig. 5. A nut 49 is applied to the threaded end of the bolt 47 to secure the connection.

Each of the upwardly extending legs 36b of the lever arms 36 is formed in its rear edge and near its upper end with an arcuate cam surface 5%] which, at its upper and lower ends, leads into seats or notches 52 and 53. The opposite end portions of the cross rod 3| are adapted to ride on the cam surfaces and to seat in the notches, which definitely limit the extent of movement of the rod. The two coiled springs are attached to the rod 3| under such tension that the cross rod i will be continuously pulled toward its upper limit and the back structure thereby automatically lifted to its upright position unless the usual weight of an occupant of the chair is placed thereagainst.

The cam edge surface is so designed that under the normal weight of the chair occupant applied against the back, the rod 3| will stay at any position within its limits of adjustment. However, when the occupant rises from the chair, the back will move to upright position.

Due to the interrelated mechanism and attachment of the side frames to the back, the arms and sides are caused to shift position simultaneously with the change of position of the back. When the back is moved to a reclined position, the front end of the arm rises slightly and the rear end is lowered to correspond to the change in the incline angle of the back; this being due to the pivotal mounting of the side frames by bolts 24 and the suspension of their rear ends from the cross rod 3| by the links 44.

The chair and mechanism hereinbefore described embody the fundamental principles of construction and combination of the various parts which comprise the invention. However,

it is to be understood that the position or location of the parts may be altered to some extent without departing from this disclosure. Also the size, shape and adaptation of the supporting mechanism may be varied to accommodate a change in size, style or shape of the chair. Furthermore, the invention is readily applicable to seats as used in buses, cars, automobiles and for various other uses.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A chair of the character described comprising a base structure, a back supported from the base structure for adjustment between upright and reclining positions and side frames pivotally supported from the base frame and forming arm rest portions, and means connecting the said frames with the said back to effect movement of side frames on their pivotal sup-v ports from one position when the said back is in upright position to a rearwardly and downwardly inclined position in accordance with the extent of adjustment of the back toward reclining position.

2. A chair of the character described comprising a base structure, a back supported from the base structure for adjustment between a raised upright position and a reclining position, side frames pivotally supported from the base structure and forming arm rest portions, a pair of links pivotally connected to the base frame at opposite sides and extended rearwardly to opposite sides of the back frame, a cross-rod extended between and joining the rearward ends of said links as a positioning support for back and movable up and down to establish the'position of the back at or between its limits of adjustmen and other links pivotally connected with said cross-rod and with said side frames whereby the side frames are moved between a substantially level position and a rearwardly and downwardly inclined position in accordance with the movement of the cross rod for support of the back frame at different positions between its upright and reclining position.

3. A chair as recited in claim 2 including means for limiting the up-and-down movement of the cross-rod relative to the back frame, and spring means in the back frame acting against said cross-rod to yieldingly resist its relative downward movement and to urge a relative upward movement whereby the back frame will be urged toward its upright position.

4. A chair of the character described comprising a base structure, a back frame, opposite side frames pivotally supported from the base frame and comprising arm rest portions, straps fixed rigidly to the back frame at opposite sides and having forwardly directed lower end portions pivoted to said base structure for swinging adjustment of the back frame between raised, upright position and lowered reclining position, a pair of links at opposite sides of the chair with forward ends pivoted to said base structure at points above the points of connection of said straps, and having rearward ends extended to opposite sides of the back frame, a cross-rod extended between and joining the rear ends of said links as a positioning support for the back frame, springs attached under tension to said cross-rod and to the back frame to urge a relative upward movement of the cross-rod along the back frame to bring the back frame to upright position, and links pivotally connected with the cross-rod and with the side frames to effect pivotal adjustment thereof to dispose the arm rest portions between substantially horizontal and rearwardly inclined positions in accordance with the position of the back frame between raised and reclining position.

5. A construction as recited in claim 4 wherein means is provided in the back frame for limiting the extent of up-and-down movement of the cross-rod relative thereto.

6. A construction as recited in claim 4 wherein said back frame comprises longitudinal opposite side members formed with longitudinal slots through which opposite end portions of said cross-rod are extended for the relative upand-down movement of the cross-rod in adjusting the position of the back frame between upright and reclining positions, and cam surfaces formed along said slots against which said rod engages in its movements and terminating at their upper and lower limits in seats for engagement by said rod as a means of limiting the extent of up-and-down adjustment of the back frame.

'7. A construction as recited in claim 4 wherein said back frame comprises longitudinal opposite side members formed with longitudinal slots through which opposite end portions of said cross-rod are extended for the relative up-anddown movement of the cross-rod in adjusting theposition of the back frame between upright and reclining positions, and cam surfaces formed along said slots against which said rod engages in its movements and terminating at their upper and lower limits in seats for engagement by said rod as a means of limiting the extent of up-anddown adjustment of the back frame; said cam surfaces being rearwardly curved between said seats to increase the lifting effect of the springs as applied through the cross-rod against the back frame when moved to reclining position.

8. A chair of the character described comprising a base structure, brackets fixed thereto at opposite sides forwardly of its back edge, a back frame, straps fixed rigidly to the back frame at opposite sides and having parts extended forwardly from the lower ends of the frame and pivotally fixed to said brackets for the up-anddown swinging adjustment of the back frame between upright and reclining positions, opposite side frames pivoted to the base structure near its forward edge and comprising arm rest portions, a pair of links with ends pivotally fixed to the said brackets at points above the points of attachment of the straps, and extending rearwardly to opposite sides of the back frame for up-and-down swinging, a cross-rod extended between and fixed to said links at their rear ends as a positioning support for the said back frame,

other links with ends pivotally attached to said cross-rod and to said side frames to effect change in their arm rest positions in accordance with the up-and-down movement of the cross-rod, and springs attached under tension to said crossrod and upper end of the back frame to urge the rod upwardly; said back frame having rearwardly curved cam surfaces along which end portions of said cross-rod ride in up-and-down movements of the rod for effecting adjustments of the back frame, and limiting seats at the ends of said cam surfaces.

HERMAN P. FRUEI-IAUF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file. of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,699,894 Klemm Jan. 22, 1929 1,189,337 Knabusch Jan. 20, 1931 2,065,233 Mallett Dec. 22, 1936 2,485,387 Krakora Oct. 18, 1949 

